Offshore platform structure and method of erecting same



May 27, 1952 Filed Jan. 13, 1949 H. A. wlLsoN 2,598,088 OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF' ERECTING SAME 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 H A, wlLsON 2,598,088

f v OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE A AND METHOD OF ERECTING SAME Filed Jan. 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 UWE/WOR. THA, Wibm ATTORNEY H. A. WILSON OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTING SAME Filed Jan. 15.1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

H.A. Wilaon ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 H. A. wlLsoN 2,598,088

' OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD 0F ERECTING SAME y Filed Jan. 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 -i'GY 42 INVENTOR. H. A. Wan

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ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 H. A. wlLsoN OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTING SAME 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 13, 1949 May 27, 1952 H A w|| s0N 2,598,088

OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF' ERECTING SAME Filed Jan. 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 -fls P1 53 55 mim l 'I H u ./H ii J 2' L@ f I -f- TEL- JT-f IN VEN TOR s* ..5 ,s HAMM:

L) u L ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 H, A wlLSON 2,598,088

OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD 0F ERECTING SAME Filed Jan. 13, 1949 9 SheetS-Sheet 7 TT .VT-w

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ATTORNEY 1 i T T TMA May 27, 1952 HQ A. wlLsoN 2,598,088

' OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF' ERECTING SAME Filed Jan. 1s, 1949 e sheets-sheet a L1 cq. E. E.

60 INVNTR.

H. A .W1/laan ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 H. A. wlLsoN 2,598,088

' OFF-SHORE PLATFORM STRUCTURE -AND METHOD OF' ERECTING SAME Filed Jan. 1s, 1949 9 sheets-sheet s :FTQ as P as .flmrFfL-n q N g; A@ L x-m A@ L p v K v i k\\\ INVENTOR.

HA, WLZMm AT TRNEIY Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE lMETHOD OF ERE'CTING SAME Harvey Ash-ton 'Wilson, Brazoria, Tex. Apiicatinn gaxiuay 13, lciafsenai Ne. 70,728

(ci. lfir-ts) "6 Claims. -1

rhis invention relates to mar-ine foundation structures and Yparticularly to `Ioff-shore working and drilling platforms `for oil Wells and methods for constructing and erecting same.

The drilling of oil wells in off-shore locations, such as on the continental shelf along the coasts of the United States, particularly oif 'the 'coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in Water depths `greater than about 10 or 15 feet, 'is increasing greatly in importance and creates many new problems in providing firm and safe support for the'heavy drilling rigs employed. Since such locations may be many miles from shore, open ocean lconditions prevail, including often severe wind and wave conditions, which make for greatexpense and diiculty in transporting and erecting foundations which are adequate to meet the conditions encountered.

Drillingr platforms which are most widely :used at present, are ordinarily constructed in the form of large templates composed of -a plurality of sections, each of which comprises a group of spacedhollovv steel columns inter-laced with structural bracing. The columns are nor,- mally made of a xed length such las to extend from the land bottom underlying the `:water 11ocation 'to above average wave level. -Each of these template sections :are transported -to the water location and set up onbottom, and l'piling is then driven through the hollow columns into the underlying land .to firmly anchor the sections in place. YWhen the re'quisite number V of such template-sections Vhave been pu-tfin place and anchored with piling, a-`Stru`cturalfsteel 'fplatform is then constructed, in generally piecemeal fashion, on their upper ends and rthe drilling rig and its appurtenances must i then -be moved in and erected 'onthel1:ilai',-fo'1ri:i This type of construction 4entails la great lamount `of labor, large erectioncrews of men Yand equipment, and extremely high Alcosts, not only in erecting the platform but -also -in removing it When drilling is completed. Since there is no positive method of determining beforehand whether or notfoil in producing'quantities 'will principal vobject :the fprovisionfof can improved f 2 drilling platform which may be employed for off-shore drilling in any of the water depths commonly encountered; which may be erected Yat a water location with a minimum of dini- 'culty .and expense; and which may subsequently be removed for transportation to another location likewise with a minimum of difficulty and expense.

More specific objects of this invention are to provide an o-shore foundation structure composed of a relatively small number of major units comprising a pre-fabricated `platform section and a number of separate supporting piers or columns adequate to support the platform section and the load thereon from the land bottom, the vplatform section being adapted to serve as aiworking platform from which the operations of handling and attaching the individv'ture on the land bottom.

The foregoing and otherwobjects and vadvantages of this invention will become apparent from the Vfollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with Athe accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments in accordance with `this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. ;1 isan-end elevation of the platform section of a structure in accordance with one em- .bodiment of this invention, illustrating one lstage in theattachment of supporting pier sections thereto;

ligs. 2, 3 andi are fragmentary views of the ystructure of Fig. 1 illustrating several subsequent stages in the attachment of the pier sectionsfto ithe platform section;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the 'platform section;

Fig. 6 is an end eievation of the fully erected rstructure, showing in broken lines removable buoyant supports employed during erection and -removal of the structure;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the erected'structure; rFigpS is anzenlarged fragmentaryiviewshowing the relative positions of the platform rsec- :tion and the. end of one pier section ata stage of erection corresponding vto kthat illustrated `in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 `is anenlarged fragmentaryview'of the platform Aand -piei' sections at afstage of erection -cc'rrespondingto `that shown in Figs.l 3 `anda-4;

Fig. is a detail showing the guide and connection elements between the platform and pier sections;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View along lineA Fig. is a diagrammatic plan view of the structure illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the relative positions of the platform section and a pier section at a stage of erection corresponding to that illustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a plan View of the fragmentary pora tion illustrated in Fig. 2l;

Figs. 23 and 24; are details of one of the connection elements employed in the embodiment of Fig. 16;

Fig. 25 is a View of a central pier section separable from the main structures of the principal embodiments to serve as a well head platform or crib after removal of the major portions of the main structures; and

Figs. 26, 27 and 28 illustrate additional modifications of principal structural embodiments in accordance with this invention.

platform and intersecting each other at a plurality of suitably framed column points 3i (see Fig. 11), to form a generally rectangular box-like open-work structure having a surface area of requisite dimensions for its intended purpose as a working platform. When used as a drilling platform, a conventional drilling derrick 32 may be mounted on the upper surface of the platform section, and will ordinarily be positioned centrally thereof but may be located at other points on the platform surface.

The truss arrangement employed in the platform structure will be designed to provide a plurality of spaced parallel rows of column points extending longitudinally and transversely of the platform section. The spacing between the rows and between the column points in each row may be varied as desired to provide suitably arranged groups of column points which will serve as connection points for the supporting pier sections S. For example, in the illustrative embodiment shown in Figsjl to 11, inclusive, one pair of the rows of column points is arranged to extend generally medially of the' platform section and an- Aother pair of rows is arranged parallel thereto and equidistant therefrom along each of the side edges of the platform section. In this instance the spacing between the rows forming each pair is less than the spacing between the pairs of rows to provide a relatively wide gap between the `medial and side pairs (see Fig. 6 particularly).

The spacing of the column points in each of the rows is such as to provide spaced groups of four column points which are aligned transversely of the platform section with corresponding groups of column points in the other pairs of rows. The spacing between the groups of column points may be uniform or varying and may be the same as or different from the spacing between the column points in each of the groups.

Enclosed within each of the several column points 3l and extending vertically therethrough is a tubular column 33 which is rigidly connected to the structural elem-ents of the platform section in any suitable and conventional manner to form an integral part thereof (see Fig. l1). Each of the columns 33 is provided with a. tubular extension 3:3 adapted to extend below the lower face of platform section P and provided at its lower end with a bolt flange 35. Tubular exten sion 3 is slidably inserted in the bore of column 33 and adjustible axially thereof. Bolts 36 extending transversely through the walls of column 33 and extension 3e may be employed to lock extension 34 in any desired position relative to its enclosing column 33 to thereby rigidly lock the extension to the platform section.

Arranged at each column point and preferably along the outer side of each of the columns 33, a tubular guide opening or fairlead 31 (Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive) is provided through the lower truss beams. A winch 38 driven by a motor 39 is supported on the platform structure generally adjacent each of the fairleads, for employment in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Each of the pier sections S is an elongated open-work steel structure generally rectangular in cross-section and composed of a plurality of tubular columns 46 (four in the illustrative embodiment) forming the four corners of the section and suitably laced together by means of conventional structural girders and cross-bracing elements to form a strong load-carrying structure having a high degree of rigidity. The spacing of columns 69 in each group is such as to conform with the spacing and arrangement of each group of four columns 33 in the platform section. rihe upper ends of columns 40 are provided with bolt flanges 4| adapted to match up with fianges on -extensions 34 when the pier section is lined up with a group of the platform columns. The upper end of each of the columns carries an outwardly extending ear or lug 42. A cylindrical guide pin 43 carried on one end of a wire rope ad is adapted to have its free end pivotally connected to one of the lugs 42, the other end of rope 4 being adapted to be threaded through one of the fairleads 31 and to be wound on winch 33. Guide pins 43 are made to a diameter which will provide a snug sliding t in fairleads 3l when the guide pins are inserted therein. The lengths of guide pins 43 are made such that when the ends of pier section columns are aligned with extensions 34, the guide pins will extend entirely through fail-leads 31. Since the platform section will, as noted, be pre-fabricated, derrick 32 and other parts of a conventional drilling rig and its usual appurtenances (not shown) may be put in `place on the platform deck before the structure is moved to its erection location. These parts may, of course, be put in place on location if desired. One or more material handling booms| schematically indicated at D, may be mounted on the platform and used in the subsequent erection operations.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, illustrate several stages in the operations for attachment of one of the pier sections. In Fig. 1 a pier section S, supported atoepee 5 in prone position on a barge E, will be moved toward' the side of the p "tfohlsectih with the lug-carrying end thereo headed' toward the platform' section. y

The aboveedescribed structure is 'erected in the following manner: N Y v v Platform section P will be fully fabricated and mounted on a pair of elongated barges B which are inserted beneath the platform 'section and arranged in parallel onY np'posite sides of the l center line thereof,y generally under the portions between the medial rows of column points and theside rows to provide a substantially balanced buoyant supporting arrangement under the platform section. Berges B will be provided -with suitable and generally Conventional type releasable connections to platform section P to permit insertion and removal of the barges from beneath the `platform section. The barges' will be' eduipped with conventional ballast handling gear l' to regulate their buoyancy so as to increase or decrease the draft of the barges as may be required to raise or lower the platform section relative to the water level. The A'platform section willnormally be supported on the' barge superstructure at an elevationwell above the normal water level W and preferably above the average wave level in the area in which the platform structure is to be erected. The barges are'adapted to serve as buoyant supports for the platform section during towing and erection operations to be described hereinafter. A number of ropes te, generally. one for each of the columns 4B of the pier section, are threaded through the appropriate fairleads 'ladjacent the column points 3l to which the pier section is to` be attached and their guide pins 153 arecnnected tothe respective lugs d?. on columns lill (see Figo). Ropes' id will then be wound on Winches 38 to draw the end of the pier section Stowardthe lower face of the platform section. At the same time, boom D will be employed to lift pier section S off of barge E, which may now be withdrawn, and to lower the free end of the pier section into the water (Fig. 2) as the continued pull vonroliles'll draws the upper end of the pier section inwardly and upwardly toward the columnpoints to which itis to be connected. As the upper en ds o f columns e approach closely to extensions Sittiche pull. on ropes de will draw guide pins 43 into fairleads 3l and their telescopic engagement will serve to efi fectively align the upper ends of columns with their corresponding extensions 34. Thereupon,

L. Ballast will 'new teA intredueedjintp 'the baises to cause them to sink lower into thewater' a distance sufficient to bring the endsof the pier eeetions firmly to rest on land bottoni JL, thereby transferring the load of the platform structure to direct support from the land `bottor'n on pier sections S'. Fig. l illustrates the position of the structure when thus landed on bottom. Barges may now be detached from platformsection S and withdrawnleaving thefully erected structure in place as illustrated in Figs; 6 and 7; As so erected the structure may be employed as a working platform for the conduct of welldriiling er any other desired type of operations therefrom.

To'remove tlie'structure, barges will be reinserted ,intol' their original Vpositinns ,beneath platform section S and their buoyancywill be' increased to lift the entirestructure adistance suflicient to raise thejlower endsk o f the pier sections above the land Abottoni to theprevi'ously described pendant positions. Ropesll'kl will again be connected to lugs 42 Aon a pier section. Flanges 35 and ill `will be disconnected and the handling line of boom D connected to an appropriate point on the pier section. Rope 4d will then be paid out as the pier, section is lifted by boom D until the pier 'section isreturned to the position illustrated in Figi and reloadedon barge E; Ropes ed will then be disconnected from the pier section and the latter Inovedaway by bargeAE'. When all 'of the' pier sections have been removed in thismanner, the platform section may then l be' transported to 'any other locationon barges B bolts will be inserted through the mating flanges 35 and di to thereby rigidly attachthe pier seotion to the lower face of the platform seetion in the desired position. Fig. 3 illustrates this latter stage in the pier connecting operation. By similar operations, a series of pier sections may thus be attached to the lower` face Iofthe platforni section along each side thereof and to the medial row of column points between the barges B. Ordinarily, the lengths of the several pier sections will be made somewhat less,` thanthe distance between the bottomY of platformsection S and the underlying land bottom L A when the platform section is on barges B, so that thepier sections may swing freely above land bottom L during the described connection operations. Accordingly, when the pier sections'have all been attached, as described, to the bottom of the platform section, the pier sections will be pendant therefrom and the entire load 'of the assembled structure will be supported on barges B,v withtne lower ends of the pier sections spaced from land and the structure re-erected ata new location in the previously described manner.

If the point to which th'e'structure is to be removed is not too'dist'ant'and the waterjdepth does not vary too greatly from that 'of the original location, it may not be necessary't'o disconnect the pier sections to move the structure to the new location. It will only be necessary, in such cases; to re-insert barges" B, as previously noted, and

lift the entire structure'thereon by increasing the '45 barge buoyancy, until Athe' lower ,ends ofthe pier sections clear the land bottom's'uiciently to allow the entire structure to be transported bodily to the new location with the pier sections in the pendant position. n

Figs. 12 and 1 3 llustratea modification of the erecting operations by which the pier sections may be extended to the land-supporting position without substantially changing the buoyancy of barges B to lower the platfbrrnstructure. In accordance with this modification, when apier section has been connected to extensions 323, as previously described, and is hanging below the platform section with rop'es 44 still attached to lugs 42, vvolts 36 connecting extensions 3d to columns 33 will be removed andropes lill paid out by Winches 38 to lower the pier section relative to the platform section until its lower end rests on land bottom L'. lbrtensi'on'sv 34, being connected to columns i0 of the pierjsection, will slide downwardly through columns 33 as the pier section is lowered and when the latter has landed on bottom, bolts 36 will be re-inserted through the walls of columns 33 and extensions 3d to again rigidly lock` the platform section to the pier section 'in its extended position. Removable crossbracing 45 will then be installed between th'e thus exposed 'portions of extensions 3 4 to rigidly brace these members and thereby form Yan extension of the upperendof the pier-scf ions. When all vof theA pi'er'se'ction's 'have-been landed onbottom in this manner, barges B may be withdrawn without appreciably changing their draft. This arrangement has the advantage that the lengths of the several pier sections may be adjusted to conform to irregularities in land bottom L and thus provides means for landing the platform structure in level position despite irregularities which may be present in the land bottom. The pier sections may be retracted toward the platform section by generally reversing the above procedure and using ropes 44 to retract the pier sections.

It will be understood that in some cases adjustment of the pier sections relative to the platform section may be employed in combination with changes in the draft of barges to suitably land the platform structure on the land bottom.

Figs. 14 and l5 illustrate further modified arrangements employed in erecting structures in accordance with this invention. As illustrated in Fig. 14, anchor piles 46 of any suitable design may be driven through one or more of the registering bores of extensions 34 and columns 46 into land bottom L to anchor the structure to the bottom. particularly to prevent lateral shifting of the structure relative to the bottom. When driving such piles bolts 36 will first be removed to allow passage of the piles through the extensions 34. After the piles are driven, the upper ends of the piles remaining enclosed within extensions 34 and columns 33 may be transversely pierced so that when bolts 36 are reinserted, they will pass through the piles and thereby lock the structure to the piles directly. At least part of the load of the platform structure may be thus transferred to the piles.

Fig. 15 illustrates a modification in which piles 46 are driven through columns 40 of the pier sections while the latter are suspended above the land bottom, as in the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Since bolts 36 must be withdrawn to allow passage of the piles, thereby releasing extensions 35, the pier sections may be supported against downward movement by leaving ropes 44 attached thereto and employing these ropes to hold the pier sections in their elevated positions while the piles are driven into the land bottom. Thereafter, bolts 36 or other suitable holding elements will be employed, as described above, to lock the platform section to the piles. In this instance, the piles will necessarily support the entire load of the platform structure and pier sections S will serve as bracing templates between the piles.

It will be understood that pile modifications may also be used, in the manner above described, with the extended pier section arrangements illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.

Figs. 16 to 24, inclusive, illustrate another principal embodiment in accordance with this invention in which a plurality of pier sections S are hingedly attached along the sides of the platform section, and additional pier sections may be connected beneath the platform section in the same manner as in the first above-described principal embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a platform section P1 has substantially the same structural form as platform section P being constructed of intersecting trusses 30 and provided with at least one pair of rows of column points 3l extending along the longitudinal axis of the platform section.`

These column points enclose columns 33 and adjustable extensions 34 as in the previously described embodiment.

The pier sections S are also of the same general structural form as those previously described but each has attached to its upper end a rectangular head section H which isiconstructed in the same form as the main platform section. That is, head section H is constructed of a plurality of intersecting trusses 55 having column points identical in construction with those of the main platform section, the column points and the other parts thereof being designated by the same numerals as in the previous embodiment.

Head sections H are designed to form segments of the main platform section, so that when the pier sections to which they are connected are put in place, along the sides of the platform section, as will be described hereinafter, the head sections will form lateral extensions of the platform section and are in end abutting relation longitudinally of the main platform section to thereby form continuous lateral extensions of the main platform section (see Fig. 20). Bolts 52 or other suitable connection means (Fig. 2l) are employed to rigidly lock together adjacent frame members of the platform section and the head sections when the latter are in place and it will be understood that similar connection means will be employed to lock the head sections to each other, whereby the platform section and the head sections will becorne a continuous unitary structure.

Mounted on the upper surface of the platform section and spaced longitudinally along its side edges are a series of hinge members, designated generally by the numerals 53. Each of the hinge members 53 (Figs. 21 and 22) comprises an upwardly and outwardly extending keeper member 54 having a curved face 55 facing outwardly and downwardly relative to the side edge of the platform section. Keeper member 54 has a central slot 5S in which is journalled a guide pulley 51. One end of a wire cable 58 is trained over pulley 51 and through slot 56 onto a power driven winch 59 mounted on the platform section rearwardly of hinge member 53. The free end of cable 53 is provided with an eye 59a. A series of hinge members, designated generally by the numerals 60, are mounted in spaced apart relation along the inner edges of the upper decks of head sections H in registration with hinge members 53. Each hinge member (see Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24) comprises a pair of spaced apart upstanding lug members Gi--Gl having curved edges 62 adapted to engage the curved face 55 of keeper members 54. Eye 55u is adapted to enter the space between lug members 6i and to be connected thereto by means of a removable bolt 63 arranged to extend transversely through the lug members and the eye.

Figs. 16 to 19, inclusive, illustrate several stages in the erection of the structure. Platform section P1 will be prefabricated and mounted on a pair of barges B, the latter extending longitudinally beneath the platform section on opposite sides of the center thereof and inwardly of the side edges. The platform section will be transported on the barges to the water location and the pier sections S, each having its head section H connected thereto, will be transported in prone position (Fig. 16) on barges E to the location. The pier sections will be moved in toward the sides of the platform section with head sections H headed toward the platform section as shown in Fig. 16. Cables 58 will be trained through two or more of the keeper members 53 which are in registration with lug members 6i) on the pier section and connected to the lug members. Cables 53 will then be Wound on Winches 5.9 .drawing .the ripper inner edge of heed sebtio'n H upwardly .andfijriwardly until'ljug membefsmllware guided into'engagement Vwith the curvedfaces offlgeeper'members dit (see Fig. 17). .The upperl inner 1 ge of the headsection thus becomes pivotall'y V.donnecteol to the side of plat- 4forlfl 'Section P11 Thelouter end of the pier .Seotion is "therilifted off of 'barge El in Yanysuitable manner, es" by handling boo-m Carried on a were boat .G (Fie-'1.8) and is lowered into the Water and permitted to swing'downwardly and inwardly until 'the pier section 'hangs vertically along- 'side the platform section. Bolts 52 are now inserted to rigidly .connect head section H to the side of the platform section. When the side rows of pier sections have all been connected, as above described, central row of pier sections will be connected beneath .the center' of therletfolm s.. ..l:`.i' 1.1 the' Same manner as was described above ,in connection with Figs. 1 to ll, particularly.

' When all of the pier sections have thus been connected, they will bev hanging from the platform section with their lower ends clear of land bottom L. lThe'struc re maybe set down on bottom in either of .he ways previously de- Sl'ipea. that is by increasing the Submerseo-@e .of berges B or' by extending the Dier Sections by retirent of solemn extensions 3f@- Berges E may their be removed and the .structure is ready for use. Removal ofthe structure may be effected generally'reversing the steps of the erection o' rations. Thev modifications, femploying piles .ti f. e applied tothe' present embodiment in substai 'rally the psi-.lille manner as -was described for the previously described embodiment.

Fig. .2 5 illustrates the manner in which one or more of .the pier sections may be detached from the platform structure at the time of removal to provide .a protective crib and platform about the head EB and upper portions of a well li drilled from the platform.

Where the platform structure is employed as well .drilling platform, the drilling derrck will ordinarilv be located centrally of the platform over the medial row of pier sections. The weil will be drilled 'through `the center of the central pier section Si and when completed the well head i'lu will be 4enclosed within this pier section and below the b ottcgrn of ythe platform section P or 61, the case may be. When it is desired to move the platform Astructure after completion of a weil, the upper ends of columns dii of the pier section will be disconnected from extensions i3d. up on .barges B `providing clearance between the upper end of pier section S1 and the lower face of the platform section, and the platform structure may then be floated away on the barges, as previously described, leaving pier section S1 in place u about the well head to serve as a protective crib therefor and to provide asmall working platform about the well head.

Figs. 26, 27 and 28, illustrate additional structural modifications applicable to both the principal embodiments previously described. ln Fig. 26 the lower' ends of pier sections S may equipped with hollow chambers 'l2 through which hollow columns Llir extend. Chambers 'l2 are adapted to form spread footings for the pier sections to increase their bearing area on the bottom and to provide buoyancy chambers useful in supporting the outer ends of the pier sections during lowering and raising operations. The buoyancy of chambers 'i2 may be controlled The .platform structure may then-be lifted i 10 in any suitable and conventional manner, nas illustrated and described irl/detail "in my oo -pendingv application "Serial No". 34,639, 4filed "June 1948.

Fig. 27 illustrates the modification of Fig. 26, further modified`` by driving 4piles- 416 through hollow columns lli)l l'into thev land bottom L to anchor the pier sections thereto. Fig. 28 corresponds to the modification of Fig. 15 but employing hollow chambers 72. 4In this modification, the buoyancy of the chambers may bev regulated to furnish a degree of buoyant `Support for the platform structure; the balance of the load thereof being taken by' piles l46l It will be understood that pier sections S may be constructed as continuous hollow concrete or steel columnsjinstead of inthe open-work structural form illustrated and described herein. In particular the pier section Si Fi. 25), which is designed to enclose a well head "and toI be left in place when the balance of the platform structure is removed, may be constructed of -suitably reinforced concretefso as to" forml a permanent protective structure for the well.` 'Moreoverpier sectionals S may be transported 'to 'the water location by various meansother than'barges E. For eXampla'they may be"madeself-buoyant, as by temporarily plugging the ends of columns to. Where hollow footings 'l2 are employed, these together with hollow columns to may be employed to float the pier sections t'tlie location.

Moreover, by the use of cables All and their associated aligning m'embers,"the pier'scctions may be pickedY up from'nthe land bottom and swung and uguided into place on the platform section. Or the pier sections Amay be set on' end on the land bottom in`position`registering with the appropriate'rows of Acolumnpoints and the platform section floated over their ends, whereupon cables 49 maybe employed'to lift the pier sections vertically into attaching`position."'t will also be understood that the particular structural form and diniensi-ons of pier sections S vmay be varied widely. Instead of th four column arrangement of the illustrative embodiments, pier sections S may bew dimensioned to extend the full length of the platform section.` Thus the platform structures'` of 'the principal embodiments may comprise only fur'units, namely, a platform section' and three pier sections.

It will be understood that numerous other changes and alterations maybe made in the decans of the illustrato@ embodiments Aof this in"- vention within the Vscope 'of the appended claims but without departing fromthespiri't of lthis invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. The method of erecting an off-shore platform structure, which comprises, bodily transporting a unitary platform section to an olfshore location buoyantly supported in horizontal position on barges, transporting a plurality of unitary elongated pier sections to said water location, connecting certain of said pier sections in depending position to spaced points on the underside of said platform section and others of said pier sections to the perimeter of said platform section at opposite sides thereof while the latter remains buoyantly supported on said barges, thereafter transferring the load of said platform section and the connected pier sections from buoyant support by said barges to direct support by said pier sections on the underlying 1l land bottom, and finally removing said barges from beneath said platform section.

2. The method of erecting an off-shore platform structure which comprises, bodily transporting a unitary platform section to an oishore location buoyantly supported in horizontal position on barges, transporting a plurality of unitary elongated pier sections to said offshore location, connecting certain of said pier sections in depending position to spaced points on the underside of said platform section and others of said pier sections to the perimeter of said platform section at opposite sides thereof while the latter remains buoyantly supported on said barges, thereafter submerging said barges suiciently to lower the depending pier sections into contact with the underlying land bottom to thereby transfer the load of said platform section from said barges to said pier sections, and

finally withdrawing said barges from beneath said platform section.

3. The method of erecting an off-shore platform structure, which comprises, bodily transporting a unitary platform section to an offshore location buoyantly supported in horizontal position and barges, transporting a plurality of unitary elongated pier sections to said offshort location, connecting certain of said pier sections in depending position to spaced points on the underside of said platform section and others of said pier sections to the perimeter of said platform section at opposite sides thereof while the latter remains buoyantly supported on said barges, thereafter extending said pier sections downwardly relative to said platform section until the lower ends of said pier sections are in load-supporting contact with the underlying land bottom to thereby transfer the load of said platform section from said barges to said extended pier sections, and finally withdrawing said barges from beneath said platform section.

4. An off-shore platform structure, comprising, a horizontally disposed platform section,

a plurality of vertical downwardly extending pier sections detachably connected at laterally spaced points to the lower face of said platform, and a plurality of additional vertical downwardly extending pier sections arranged adjacent opposite sides of said platform and having their 5. An off-short platform structure, comprising, a horizontally disposed platform section, a plurality of elongated pier sections vertically disposed beneath said platform section, separable means for detachably connecting said pier sections to the lower face of said platform section, additional elongated pier sections vertically disposed along opposite sides of said platform section, and separable means for connecting said additional pier sections to the opposite sides and upper edge of said platform section, the latter separable means including cooperating hinge members carried by the upper edge of said platform section and the upper ends of said additional pier sections to permit lateral swinging movement of said additional pier sections relative to said platform section, all of said pier sections being dimensioned to extend to the land bottom underlying a water body to support said platform section above the surface of said water body.

6. An olf-shore platform structure, comprising, a horizontally disposed platform section, a plurality of elongated pier sections detachably connected to said platform to support the latter from the underlying land, and means for connecting said pier sections to said platform section, said means comprising, a plurality of spaced-apart tubular column members vertically disposed throughout said platform section and rigidly connected thereto, tubular sleeve members extending through said column members and axially slidable therein to adjustably extend the lower ends thereof beneath the lower face of said platform section, means for locking said sleeve members in adjusted position to said column members, and separable means for connecting the upper ends of said pier sections to the lower ends of selected ones of said sleeve members.

HARVEY ASHTON WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 873,581 McQueen Dec. 10, 1907 2,210,408 Henry Aug. 6, 1940 2,352,370 Carruthers June 27, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 149,137 Great Britain 1920 405,437 Germany 1924 

